Combination furniture



Feb. 7, 1950 v. E. JOHNSON COMBINATION FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2]., 1946 0 a] 32 1 J] 2 $2 3 iciorEJohmm Feb. 195% v. E. JQHNsQN 2,497,001

COMBINATION FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1946 Patented Feb. 7, 1950 r 2,497,091 COMBINATION FURNITURE 3 Victor E.

Johnson, Royal Oak, Michu aisianor to Ross Cowsert, Royal Oak, M1611.

Application February 21, 1946, Serial No. 549,17 b J r v1 Claim- (Cl. 155*123) The invention relates to a table combined with seats, and is intended primarily for outdoor use by tourists, campers, picknickers, and others who wish to avail themselves of such convenfences.

One object of the invention is to provide a" simple and inexpensive construction which may be compactly folded for carrying or storage and may be quickly and easily set up for use whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and advantageous construction whereby the seats detachably support the table in convenient position for use. 1

A further and impo tant object is to provide a novel construction well adapted for temporary connection with either the front or rear bumper of an automobile, utilizing the bumper not only to support one end of the structure but to effectively stabilize the entire device.

Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in section as indicated by line l-I of Fig. 2, the front end of an automobile with which the invention is connected, being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly broken away and in section, and again showing the front end of the automobile in broken lines.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the inner end of one of the seat frames, the clamp for connecting it with an automobile bumper, and a portion of one of the table legs.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail vertical sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the manner in which the table is compactly foldable.

The drawings may be considered as disclosing a preferred construction and while that construction will be specifically described, attention is invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention.

Two seats 10 are provided in opposed relation with each other, each of said seats preferably having a metal frame II and a. covering or seat proper I! of canvas or the like. Each seat frame H includes a front bar I3, a rear bar I, and a transverse bar l5 integrally connecting the outer ends of said front and rear bars I3 and M. The inner ends of the bars I3 and I4 project beyond one end of the covering or seat proper l2, and said projecting ends are connected by upper and lower transverse bars l6 and I! riveted or otherwise secured thereto, said bars [8 and I1 projecting beyond the front bar M as shown at l6 and H respectively, and having: vertically .a'lined openings 18 and is (Fig. 4) in these projectin ends, providing said bans -witht...npwardl-y=open sockets for a purpose to appear. The inner terminals of the bars 13 and M are intended to rest upon an automobile bumper 2B, and a suit-- able clamp 2| is secured to each of the lower bars I! between said bars l3 and H "to engage'said bumper. each clamp having suita le upper and lowe la s .22 and .213 movable into clamping en-t eas ment with the bumper by meansof alever nut 24 on a clamping-bolt 25. By thus clampin the inner ends of thetwo frames l I to the bum-pen 2.0 said ends are effectively supported- Suitable extensible and "retractibie, 'foldable le s 26 are provided to support the outer ends of the frames H, and it is preferable also to provide the inner end portions of the bars l3 and M with similar legs 26' in order that the seats may be used disconnected from the car bumper, if desired. Suit-able latches 21 (see more particularly Fig. '7) are provided to hold the legs 26 and 26' either in downwardly projecting operative position, or in upwardly folded position, as desired.

Each seat It is preferably provided with hinged downwardly foldable backs 28 preferably formed from arched pieces of metal tubing covered with canvas 01' the like. The manner of hinging the backs 28 to the seat frames is shown more particularly in Fig. 5 and it will be obserevd that the structure is well braced when erected for use, and is readily foldable downwardly when not in use. In this view and others, 29 denotes the hinge.

A table top 30 is positioned for convenient use by the occupants of the seats l0, said top consisting of a relatively narrow central section 3| and two much wider side sections 32 hinged at 3| to said central section 3|, permitting the top to be folded as seen .in Fig. 8; when not in use. Two longitudinal shafts 33 underlie the outer edge portions of the top sections 32 and are rotatably connected therewith, in parallel relation with each other, by appropriate bearings 34-. The inner ends of these shafts 33 are provided with rigid downwardly projecting legs 35 which are preferably integral therewith, the lower ends of said legs being removably received in the sockets formed by the bar ends I6 and H, and their openings I8 and! 9. The legs 35 have appropriate stops 36 to limit their downward movement into the sockets. It is also preferable to provide each shaft 33 with a stop pin 31 operable in a slot 38 56 of one of its bearings 34 (see Figs. 3 and 6).

vention. The table top 30 is readily removable" from the seats l0, simply by liftingit, and said table top and its legs may then be compactly folded as seen in Fig. 8. Tastes-se ts may be easily disconnected from the bumper- 2D and their legs folded into compact positions, .-thus the entire structure may be carried in small space,

for instance in the trunk of the average car. Moreover, the equipment may be set up for use with speed and ease and will be effectively stabilized, as well as supported to a large extent, by the car bumper.

Excellent results "may be attained f-ronuthe structure shown and described and while it maybe considered as preferred, attention" is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention.

' What is claimed is: V

In combination furniture, a seat; a supporting frame for said seat comprising a, front bar and a rear bar having free ends projecting beyond one end of said seat, an upper transverse bar secured to the upper sides of said projecting bar ends, and a lower transverse bar secured to the lower sides of said projecting bar'ends, said upper and lower transverse bars having free front ends projecting forwardly beyond said front bar, said forwardly projecting bar ends having vertically alined openings to receive a table-supporting leg, at least one of said forwardly projecting bar ends being ofl'set vertically to space it from the other of these bar ends a distance considerably greater than the vertical dimensionof said front bar; and supporting means for said seat frame including a clamp secured to at least one of said transverse bars and located between said projecting ends of said front and rear bars, said clamp being constructed to engage an automobile bumper when said projecting ends of said front and rear bars are placed upon the latter.

VICTOR E. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES rA'I'rrN'rs Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,497,001 Februery 7, 1950 VICTOR E. JOHNSON It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to Ross Cowsert as assignee of the entire interest therein, whereas said patent should have been issued to Victor E. Johnson, 0] Royal Oak, Michigan, assignor of 40% to Ross Oowsert, of Royal Oak, Michigan; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signedatnd sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommiasionct of Patents. 

